Alisha Nance makes a face while playing with her pet dachshund Addie at an Atlanta rehabilitation center.
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Near-drowning survivor Alisha Nance will return home soon to refresh herself before entering an intensive rehabilitation facility in Atlanta.
Nance, 18, of Murfreesboro, suffered extensive injuries Feb. 5 when her car plunged into rain-swollen Stones River off Barfield Road. Passing motorists jumped into the frigid water to upright her car and keep her from floating down the swift water until rescuers responded.
Since then, Nance received treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville before transferring in March to Shepherd Center, a brain and spinal cord injury facility in Atlanta.
Family friend Janice McGoldrick said Nance soon will return home to regain strength before returning to Shepherd’s rehabilitation center, Pathways, where she will learn to walk again during eight-hour daily rehabilitation therapy.
“She’s very homesick and wants to come home,” McGoldrick said.
Doctors removed the device in her trachea so she’s asking for her friends and ready to talk on the phone.
“She’s slowly getting her voice back,” McGoldrick said. “Her long-term memory shows she’s sharp as a tack. She has concepts of different games like Uno and Connect Four. What’s slow is her short-term memory.
“She doesn’t remember the accident,” McGoldrick said, adding, “I pray she doesn’t remember it.”
While in Shepherd, Nance opened her eyes and communicated with her mother, Angie Sterry, who has been with her the past five months. She’s still weak but improving.
Nance was a Riverdale High School senior at the time of the crash. Sterry left her side long enough to accept her daughter’s diploma during graduation ceremonies in May.
Because of her medical condition, the family had to renovate a room in their home for Nance. They enlisted the support of volunteers, who donated their time and materials.
“It’s been overwhelming and remarkable,” McGoldrick said of the community’s response in renovating the room.
While trying to round up volunteers to build a ramp, several contractors showed up at the family home last Saturday and built the ramp.
“It’s been remarkable,” McGoldrick said. “People are getting the room done.”
The room lacks a ceiling lift to help Nance get out of bed. Friends hope to organize a fund-raising event to pay for the lift. Payment for the lift received a boost from Crossway Baptist Church, whose Vacation Bible School students waged a “penny war” between the boys and girls. The children raised $380.
Church members decided to give the money to Nance’s medical fund. An anonymous donor matched the children’s donation.
People who want to donate to the medical fund may deposit donations in the Alisha Nance Fund at any Pinnacle Bank.
The family thanks everyone who supported the family during Nance’s recovery so far.
While at Shepherd, Nance is keeping up with her friends on Facebook.
“She is tired but she’s all excited because she’s coming home,” McGoldrick said.
Nance is weak but hopes to gain strength while recuperating at home.
“It’s going to take a lot of strength,” McGoldrick said of the return to Shepherd and Pathways. “I really think she’s going to do well.” |
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